Improvement in coffins



T. GRAHAM. DISINFEUTING COFI'IN.

Patented Apr. 25, 1865 L W K W jnaeniar: XkWJQ-b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GRAHAM, OEPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN con-ms.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS GRAHAM, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented eer tain Improvements in Ooflins; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompan yin gs drawingsand to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in certain vessels containing-alcohol or other equivalent fluid and arranged in a coffin, so as to be detachable therefrom.

' On reference to the accompany in gdrawin gs, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a cofiin with the cover removed in order to illustrate my improvements, and Fin. 2 a transverse section of the coiIfin.

Y A A are the sides, B the bottom, 0 G the opposite ends, and D the cover of the coffin, which may he of the usual sha-peand material, but somewhat deeper than an ordinary coifin.

The cover may be secured by screws, as usual, and atight joint may be formedbetween the body of the coffin andthe cover by a gum elastic packing or a suitable cement.

A shallow dish, E, of a shape conforming to that of the coflin,is placed within and rests on thebottom of the same, and on the edge of this dish rests a sheet of wire gauze or netting e, or a perforated plate may rest on the, edge of the dish, whichever may be deemed most appropriate. The corpse "is placed on this sheet of gauze or perforated plate e, and, i in order that the latter may not be disturbed by the weight of the corpse, ribs f are secured to the dish, across the same, at suitable inter vals.

G G are two vessels so secured to. the opposite sides and to the interior of the coflin as to be readily detached therefrom, the vessels being open to the top and being situated at a part of the coffin where they will not interfere with the corpse.

.Priorto depositing the corpse on the gauze or; perforated plate 0, alcohol or other volatile fluid is poured into the dish E, so that there may be adepth of an. inch or thereabout of the fluid. The vessels G Gare also filled or partially filled with similar fluid, after which the corpse is deposited in the coflin.

After the eoffin has been closed the air within becomes charged with the vapor of the alcohol'and, enveloping the corpse, preserves the latter from decay.

By the-use of my invention the usual icebox may be dispensed with. If deemed desirable, the fluid may be scented with any essential oils or drugs;

I claim as my invention and-desire to secure by Letters Patent The vessels G, containing alcohol or other equivalent fluid, and arranged-in a cofiin so as to be detachable therefrom, as set forth, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rnn, JOHN WHITE. 

